Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-05-21
Mr. Lamar's Address.

The occasion was one in which every
lmtriotic citizen might take genuine
pr de. Mr.. Calhoun was Il giant in de-
bate, Il statesman OF broad aud intel
lcctual views, Il citizen OF rare rccti-
tudc OF conduct and uprightncss Of
purpose. His public services were
many and laborious, and his contribu-
tious to political knowledge were III
valuable.
One does hot have TO agree with all
the expressed views of the mcn OF the
past in order 10 recognize the value OF
their services, or To claim Il part in the
glory which they have she'd on our
common country. When Hill and La
MAI and other southern orators have
paid w%cil-carned tributes TO men like
Sumner, Seward and Lincoln, it has
been always with the thought that the
lives of these men, and what they
wrought, consciously or unconscious
~, for the general welfare were II COM
mon heritage, from which neither par
ty, divisions nor sectional hntreds
could exclude any American citizen,
In the life and character of John T..
Calhoun, Mr.. Lamar had noble theme,
and his %clogncncc was rs elevated as
his theme. No man, il matters little
what may have been his prcconce;ved
opinions OF Calhoun and Lamar, can
read this address without his heart
stirring within him with patriotic
prilc. There is nothing apologize in
the address there is nothing in his ca.
rcer to conceal, but with II grasp of
mind which takes in the whole pro-
gross Of constitutional history, Mr.. La
MAR shows how the life of Mr.. Calhoun
was devoted TO the p~crpeiuation OF
free institutions, aud how, in the face
OF political temptation, he sacrificed
all temporary applause in order &c
maintain the principles of constitu-
| tional government, which to him were
the only charter Of individual liberty
In the mind of the North, Calhoun is
the embodiment of all OF the "hcrcsics'
OF slavery, notification and disunion
The "hisiorian" has We'd with the par
tisan stump speaker in his attempt tt
draw the character of Mr., Calhoun a.
political Mephistopheles, or an ablel
but less courageous Burr. There il
nowhere in the political or historical
literature OF the North of to-day an!
suggestion of the true character Of Mr.
Calhoun. any attempt TO understand
appreciate or apply the doctrines
which for nearly fifty years he TX
puonded in our National Congress.
II is the fond delnsion Of the Nor
thcrn men 0flcttcrs that they are writ
ing history that they are drawing NJ
what is to constitute the verdict OF
postcriiy. TO these men the address
Of Mr.. Lamar will come a a shock o
surprise, 1t is, AS we haye said, NJ
apology is no plea for u reversal OF
recorded sentence; II Is not an at
tempt to redeem by cuiogy ono who
has been condemned by partisnn nal
ice. Instead, II is u calm and stately
an earnest and eloquent inquiry int
those "moral, serial aud material fore
es which have always been more pow
orful IN molding institutions or deter
mining the dostinies OF nations than
are the external legal forms" and be-
cause the orator pursnes these invesii
cations rs apolitical philosopher rath
or than q partisan blographcr, h
throws q new light on the central fly
llrc In q national drama, and exhibit
Ithoso esents In or'lrely prcces.io'